Date set for Westminster abuse hearings

The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse has announced a timetable of hearings for the next 18 monthsPA

The public inquiry into child abuse will hold public hearings into alleged paedophile activity at Westminster in March 2019, almost five years after it was established.

Widely publicised claims that a powerful paedophile network had been covered up in Westminster were instrumental in persuading Theresa May, when she was home secretary, to set up the inquiry in July 2014.

The allegations were discredited when Scotland Yard’s Operation Midland collapsed and its key witness, a man called Nick, was placed under investigation for perverting the course of justice.